'Nother discussion

[Seatbelt]

One God and One Truth, or one god and many truths? Do western religions have it right when we say that there is only God and everyone else is wrong? What say you?



Attempting to stimulate some worthwhile conversation here people.

[†Gothic Angel†]

" does it matter which road we take as long as we get to the same destination?"

or something like that *lol* I'm starting to lose my Christian faith - well, sometimes it feels as though I am, and then other times I'm not I'm all mixed up. I don't think we have it right at all. I just let people believe what they want to believe e.t.c.

Religion is just one of those topics that really hurts my brain - it's like when you try thinking about the universe (which I won't even go into!!)

[Seatbelt]

†Gothic said:

" does it matter which road we take as long as we get to the same destination?"

or something like that *lol* I'm starting to lose my Christian faith - well, sometimes it feels as though I am, and then other times I'm not I'm all mixed up. I don't think we have it right at all. I just let people believe what they want to believe e.t.c.

Religion is just one of those topics that really hurts my brain - it's like when you try thinking about the universe (which I won't even go into!!)

:eep: That's kinda typical of Christians today. Especially with all this science stuff floating around. We have more and more evidence pointing towards science and less and less pointing towards God. Which is the general perception of everyone (especially young christians who havent been indoctrinated into the faith as badly as their parents have). Well, if Science says this, and God says this.. who is right?
The correct answer (for me at least, having thought and argued over this very much with many people. parents included. That didnt go over well. ) is neither.

Despite what you read in books and are taught in school there is no concrete evidence that we evolved and werent thought into existence. None what so ever. however there is alot of suggestive evidence. As well as the age of the planet itself (around 3 billion years) and the universe at large (12 to 16 billion years). Those dates clash directly with the bible. (which if you do the math is around 2 to 4,000 BC. Impossible as well)

Sooooo! What to believe in? Genesis leaves the story of creation vague on purpose. We're not suposed to worry over how He created everything. We're just suposed to take comfort in the fact that He did and move on. (Not to say we can't do research into how everything came about. Just that it dosent have to clash with Biblical "truth")

Another thing people stress over is the historical accuracy of the Bible. The books of the NT were written approx. 100 years after the events they describe. There is no doubt in my mind that the authors messed up a little. Forgot some bits and added others. Emperor Constantine in the...14(?) century took them and slapped 'em together to motivate the troops on Crusades. Saying that the NT might have gotten some things wrong is like saying I play video games. However that dosent mean it's not accurate. When you read a description of the Revolutionary War that story is a good 200 years old. So it would be like you writing about the American Revolution from stories a soldier who fought in it told you. It's not wrong. It's just a little fuzzy. Based on the NT and what I have read - I believe there was a figure of Jesus Christ, and that he was the son of God. But I also realise it could have been anyone in the NT. Some of Jesus' top disciples performed the same miracles Jesus did after they whacked him.

Last but not least: "If good people don't believe in Jesus, do they go to hell?" The answer is up to you. Just remember, alot of the major religions today worship the same god. Quite literally. The Christians, Catholics, Jews and Muslims all worship the God of Abraham. Even the Hindu religion is probably a descendant of Abraham. They worship 3 deities who share the same aspects of the god of the Jews. The anchient egyptians to. The word "Israel" comes from 3 Egyptian god names. Is - a form of Isis. Ra - the sun god (God is described as light in numerous places throughout the bible) and El (Elohim is a Hebrew word for god.)

Isis, Ra, El(I think that's it at least, could be a variation on the same), Shiva, Vishnu, Elohim, Hashem, ect all preform the same basic functions in their respective religions. Coincidence? I think not.

[Danny]

oh jeez, there was a HUGE massive fight between a few people (including myself) at another forum about Religion vs. Science.

For my part, I find it incredibly stupid to argue this one. People believe what they believe, and most are stubborn enough that nothing's gonna change that. I don't like Science, it's never been one of my best subjects at school, and I'm one of those who was raised on the Bible in a Christian home, so if someone asks me what my take on my origins is, Genesis becomes the automatic answer--without question.

Science itself, as someone pointed out, changes constantly. It grows and adapts as Scientists 'figure out more.' To this other person, having a belief that changes to accept what is discovered is more stable that having a set history that never changes or falters, the only exception being when a new translation is released. My explaination was that if I believed in the Primordial Ooze theory, and honestly thought that I evolved from a fish, and told everyone that we had aquatic wildlife for ancestors, and some Scientist discovers something else, and all of a sudden they're saying we didn't come from fish, then my faith in my origins is shaken, and what I believed to be truth is now being told off as false. I can't see why people would go for that.

But like I said, it's no longer worth arguing over.

So, I dunno. I believe the Christian faith, and while I don't agree with the Islamic or Jewish or Hindu or Catholic or Buddhist faiths, I'm not gonna say that I hate them all. I mean, the one I would have to disagree most with would be Islam. I have friends who are Islamic, but they all say that Islam teaches you the 'love your neighbor' thing, and then, one day, I picked up a copy of the Koran, and started reading it out of curiousity, and it's copied off the Bible, only in shorter terms, but with some major differences.

For instance, Muslims believe that all are born Muslim, and if they change that, they can never go back to being a pure Muslim, because they've defiled their faith.

They also believe that Jesus was born under a palm tree in the middle of a desert, and they basically make him out to be the Devil himself. I mean, they specifically say, Followers of Christ are sinners and of the Devil and should be eliminated. And Muhammed claims to only be a saint, but all through the Koran he refers to himself and God as "We." It was just too creepy to me.

But nothing against those who are Muslim.

I also believe (and my cousin and others in my family and around me know this) that some Catholics worship Mary and other saints more than they do Christ, which is idol worship to me, and not right. But that doesn't mean I hate them either, I just don't agree.

Again, I dunno, these are just thoughts, and everyone's thoughts are different, and I can be very hypocritical at times as well. oO;

[Paris Kills]

If one is going to say that science changes constantly--which it does--one must also point out that religion changes constantly. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that the so-called rules are bent more and more as time passes. Also, religion often changes as science changes because, as has been said, the faith is disturbed by discoveries.

Would we say, then, that as science advances, religion falls backward? It is not typically modified to fit the scietific advances; more to fit the cries of the people. If they want laxity, they will go for it and call it religion, in many instances.

Granted, science is not always going to be accurate. I am mroe incliend to follow what I hear in science, but we can explain only so much. Thus, we bring religion and other beliefs to create reality for ourselves.

Personally, I can only believe a collaboration of what I hear, see, and feel. Which means that, no, I don't much believe in this idea of the Christian God. It seems that there is something out there, yes, but I haven't yet found anyone that I felt was on the right track. Perhaps the higher power is one being, perhaps it differs from person to person.

*shouldn't try to think late at night* Gah, I tried. Sort of. Ah well.

[Danny]

Yeah, Kristi, we all know you're f*cked up. o.o;;;

Erm...oops, cussed on my own board. >.o

I'm such a bright, shining example for people. - -'

Guess I currently don't care, though, it's 3 am, I can't sleep, there is no way that I'm gonna stay awake tomorrow in school, supposing I get up, I'm pissed off at a couple different people, and I really really REALLY want a screwdriver right now. Or maybe straight orange juice, that works too, just without the....erm...added effects.

[Seatbelt]

screwdriver? *busts out multitool and flicks out the screwdriver head*